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BAYSIDE HISTORY AND NATURE CENTER AT NORTH BEACH
Executive Summary
This proposal outlines a three-phase process for creating environmental and educational opportunities for the citizens of Calvert County.
Funding for the Capital Improvements is proposed to be a combination of federal, state and local funds.
Application has already been made to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fund Phase I -- Wetlands Restoration Project.
Application will be made to the Maryland Department of Transportation to fund Phase II -- Trail Design and Installation.
With the endorsement of this Board of County Commissioners, Governor Parris Glendening will be asked to fund the full capital cost for the Bayside History and Nature Center at North Beach. |
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BAYSIDE HISTORY AND NATURE CENTER AT NORTH BEACH
Mission Statement
The Bayside History and Nature Center at North Beach provides to all citizens an understanding of the role the Chesapeake Bay environment had in shaping the cultures of the Bayside communities from Herring Bay to the Cliffs of Calvert at Camp Roosevelt from prehistoric times to the present. Through research and interpretation of collections, effective environmental and historical education, and the preservation of wetland habitat and historical resources, the center and the beach communities will promote stewardship for this heritage and ensure the continuation of the relationship for future generations.
Geographic Scope of Center
Chesapeake Bay drainage only, extending from Herring Bay Drainage to Plum Point drainage at Camp Roosevelt. This geographic focus will highlight the following drainages and places.
- Herring Bay (Deale, Fairhaven, Rose Haven)
- Boundary Marsh and Fishing Creek (North Beach, Chesapeake Beach)
- Bay Cliffs to Plum Point (Calvert Cliffs, Navy Radar Station and Camp Roosevelt
Chronological Range of Center
Collection Focus: 18th to 20th centuries with emphasis on collections that illustrate the themes of agriculture, maritime, recreational, community, military and architectural histories of the mid-bayside region.
Interpretive Focus: 200 A.D. to 2000 A.D. Research and interprets the Algonquian Indians from 200 A.D. to 1640 A.D.; colonial period settlements in the 17th and 18th centuries; and late 19th to 20th century development of bayside communities and their relations to the ecology of the marsh, shore and woodlands of the region. Natural history themes would include the evolution of the bay ecology; the silting in and formation of the bay marshes and beaches; and the effects of changing cultural developments on these natural resources (change from farming and fishing to recreational, commercial, military and suburban activities in the mid-Bay region).
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Goals and Benefits
1) The Center is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the human history of these areas from the Algonquian Indians to the present. The Center will collect oral history, photographs, archives, and historic objects that document the agricultural, maritime, recreational, community, military and architectural histories of the region.
2) The Center conducts public and student educational and recreational programs focused on the historical and natural heritage of this region. The Center demonstrates the delicate balance achievable between economic viability and environmental sustainability.
3) The Center serves as a gateway to the communities, natural, educational and recreational activities along the bayside shores, creeks, marshes and woodlands of the Middle Chesapeake region. The Center facilitates eco-tourism and citizens use of the walkways, boardwalks, beach access, nature trails, history museums, and water-based activities with participating partners from Herring Bay to the Cliffs of Calvert at Camp Roosevelt.
4) The Center promotes the preservation of natural resource areas adjacent to the towns and communities.
5) The Center monitors and documents significant short- and long-term changes to the bayside wetland habitats. The Center researches and documents, in partnership with other institutions, the cultural and natural heritage of the region.
Location and Existing Resources of Proposed Site
- Bayside Marsh and adjacent woodland shore and planned North Beach to Rose Haven Algonquian Woodland Trail.
- Large North Beach Water Tower to be maintained as functional system.
- 1959 Abandoned Sewage Treatment Plant, to be retained but adapted for Center use.
- Maintenance Building to be removed and replaced by new Center.
- Paved access road and gravel parking and staging areas.
- Near shore Boundary Marsh habitat with small forest habitat on site and grass areas.
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Nearby Museums/Nature Centers with Similar Mission/Themes
- Shady Side Rural Heritage Society
- Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum
- Calvert Marine Museum-Cove Point Light House
- Flag Ponds Nature Park
- Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant Visitor Center
- Calvert Cliffs State Park
- Jug Bay
New Center Outdoor Site Improvement Recommendations
- Connect Center to Rose Haven via the Algonquian Woodland Trail.
- Extend trail around Marsh Shoreline, construct elevated viewing platform in northeast corner in wooded area, and have ecology boardwalk that goes into the marsh for interpretation and collecting marsh samples by students.
- Connect trail to upgraded sidewalk along entrance road to the Center.
- Provide porous pavers parking spaces for 30 visitors and two buses, paved parking spaces to meet ADA requirements, and enhanced grass parking for another 50 visitors for special events, education programs and pavilion rentals.
- Develop outdoors-interpretive exhibits and observation points at Center and along Algonquian Woodland Trail.
- Restoration and study of Bayside Marsh with Corps of Engineers funding.
- With landowners voluntary cooperation, easement or fee simple purchase of Bayside Marsh forested headland buffer around marsh as park and preserve.
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| Existing Building Center Adaptive Reuse
Constructed in 1959 as the first Sewer Treatment Plant in Calvert County and abandoned since the 1980s, the two-story cement block structure has three open-air treatment vats and two, one-room equipment offices. Current open vats are a potential liability issue. They cannot be adapted for ecology studies and need to be drained, cleaned and sealed. Due to its interpretive value and historic nature, the building should be retained and adapted for new uses. An environmental health assessment must be completed to determine any health/safety issues involved and make recommendations for safeguards for proposed public use.
Option 1: Do nothing. Retain existing structure. Enclose stairway to vat area for security and safety reasons. Upgrade flooring and safety railing if plans include taking school tours to see open vats. Not ADA accessible to the second floor.
Option 2: Turn current vat area into a second floor pavilion for lunches for visitors, observation of the Bay, special events and rental. This would involve installing a vertical lift in the two rooms, draining water in vats and sealing over the vats with flooring, building a roof structure over this area with solid walls and windows to the west and south and open views and bay windows to the east. Windows should be made to open to allow for ventilation. Heating and cooling optional, depending on budget and period of intended use. If the Center wishes to interpret formal use of facility, one of the circular vat areas could be interpreted with Plexiglas flooring, lights in vat, and dehumidifier, with access to this area for light and equipment replacement.
Option 3: Demolition of facility. Given the massive concrete nature of the Sewer Treatment Plant, cost could be high for demolition and disposal off site. Cost estimates should be secured so that option can be compared with cost of options 1 and 2. Given the mission and interpretive focus of the Center, the retention of this structure is recommended with the understanding that funds will be secured to ensure safety, maintenance and adaptation for new educational and public use.
New Center Building Functional Needs
The best views for observation of the Chesapeake Bay are to the east. The next best views are the marsh views to the north. The back marsh views to the west are dominated by townhouses while views to the south are partly blocked by the cement structure. The draft building plan should have the first and second story views toward the Bay and the north view of the marsh. Museum exhibit and collection areas should be located in the south and west part of the building with minimum windows to reduce ultraviolet light damage to collections and exhibits. Function rooms need an estimated net square footage required for basic use. Parking, sidewalk, nature trails, boardwalks, observation decks, and outdoor signage should be sensitively designed to the site and to the existing and new structures on the property. Plants native to the region should be used for landscaping and interpretive outdoor settings.
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| New Center Building Functional Spaces and Square Foot Requirements
Basement: Utilities, Maintenance and elevator equipment (800 sq. ft.)
First Floor Functions:
- Nature Gallery (1,500 sq. ft.)
- Animal Care (400 sq. ft.)
- Discovery Room (400 sq. ft.)
- Changing Exhibits (800 sq. ft.)
- Men and Women Restrooms
- Research Lab (500 sq. ft.)
- Classroom (575 sq. ft.)
- Storage (200 sq. ft.)
- Shop Facilities Office/Storage (500 sq. ft.)
- Museum Shop (500 sq. ft.)
- Lobby
- Outdoor Pavilion
Second Floor Functions:
- Multipurpose Room (1,500 sq. ft.)
- History Gallery (1,000 sq. ft.)
- Pre-History Gallery (500 sq. ft.)
- Collections Storage (700 sq. ft.)
- Staff Offices (500 sq. ft.)
- Covered Dock (400 sq. ft.)
- Kitchen Facility (400 sq. ft.)
- Meeting room (325 sq. ft.)
- Miscellaneous - Elevator, Closet, stairwell, etc.
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| Preliminary Estimate for Nature & Educational Center at North Beach |
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| 19,200 sq. ft. @ $150 sq. ft.
ddd |
$2,880,000
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| Estimated Cost for Permanent Exhibits |
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| a. Nature Center Exhibit -- approx. 1,000 sq. ft. @ $600 sq. ft. |
$600,000
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| b. Tanks & lines associated with aquarium |
$200,000
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| c. History Gallery -- approx. 1,000 sq. ft. @ $500 sq. ft. |
$500,000
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| d. Prehistory Gallery -- approx. 500 sq. ft. @ $400 sq. ft. |
$200,000
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$1,500,000 |
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| Preliminary Estimate for the North Beach Trail
a. Trail -- 1,350 feet long, 8 feet wide @ $40 sq. ft/10,800 sq. ft. |
$432,000
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| b. Design Fees |
$52,500
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| c. Contingency @ 10% |
$43,200
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| d. Observation Tower |
$12,000
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$530,000
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Total net square feet for Pavilion Shelter over Sewer Treatment Plant Existing Facility
350 sq. ft. -- cost per square foot assumes seasonal, no HVAC |
Not Established |
| Total Cost for roadway, parking, landscaping-estimate needed |
Not Established |
| Total Cost for Marsh Restoration -- Fund source -- Army Corps of Engineers |
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| Total Cost for Algonquian Trail Construction -- Fund source -- Maryland Department of Transportation (TEA-21), State and local funds |
| Estimate Cost for Bayside Marsh Purchase -- Possible Funding Sources -- Green Print Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Calvert County Program Open Space
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Capital Improvements Plan
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PHASE I
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Wetlands Restoration
(Funded by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) |
PHASE II
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Nature and Educational Trail
(Funded by Maryland Department of
Transportation/TEA-21, State and Local) |
PHASE III
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Bayside History and Nature Center at North Beach
(Funded by Maryland Capital Construction Loan Budget) |
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Benefit To Communities
Preservation
- Wetland Preservation precludes further development of this land.
- Wetland Restoration preserves the natural habitat for aquatic life and plants.
Economic Development
- Citizens can walk to the newly renovated waterfront, local antique shops, restaurants, gift and floral shop, Tastee' Freeze and the famous "Boardwalk at North Beach."
- The economic benefits are numerous: patronage of local businesses, tourism, school tours, enhanced property values.
Community Quality of Life
- Numerous residents will be able to walk, bike or hike to the center and surrounding amenities without going onto state highways.
- Handicapped Accessible.
- Exercise opportunities for all ages, especially with the new Senior Center and the proposed medical center.
- The Town of North Beach currently supports Bayfront Park Patrol and Bicycle Patrol, who will continue to supervise and patrol the community.
- Attracting tourists from throughout the region for Bayside access and environmental experiences.
Education
- ChesPAX, K - 12, and working with the local College of Southern Maryland to provide opportunities for student interns and projects.
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September 1, 2001
Calvert County Board of County Commissioners
175 Main Street
Courthouse
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Dear County Commissioners:
I am writing to request your support for the proposed North Beach Bayside History and Nature Center ("Bayside Nature Center"). The Bayside Nature Center and its associated nature trail and observation tower will provide first-class historical, cultural and environmental education opportunities to the citizens of North Beach and Calvert's third election district. Moreover, the Bayside Nature Center complements existing public projects in the twin beach area and will likely provide economic development benefits as a local tourist attraction.
The Bayside Nature Center seeks to take advantage of North Beach's natural environmental features to maximize the historical, cultural and environmental benefits to its visitors. In addition to providing rotating exhibits of a historical and cultural nature, the Bayside Nature Center and its associated trail and observation tower will offer first-hand opportunities to study and observe local wildlife and wetlands. While Calvert residents in the middle and southern portion of the County enjoy such opportunities at the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Nature Center and Flag Ponds Nature Park, no such opportunities exist for those in the northern portion of the County, particularly in the twin beach area. In addition, rarely does such an opportunity present itself in a town center, as is the case here, where a large number of County residents can be served with great convenience.
The Bayside Nature Center represents another step in the right direction for North Beach. Recently, with State and County assistance, North Beach has been able to upgrade its pier and bayfront areas. In addition, the town has added a Boys and Girls Club facility and work has begun on the new athletic fields, which will serve both Chesapeake and North Beach. All of these youth-related projects will be further complemented by the addition of the Bayside Nature Center. Indeed, the Nature Center will offer an avenue for the youth who may not be attracted to those activities that are sports-related.
In addition to providing increased opportunities for youth, the Bayside Nature Center will provide a quality educational experience for all residents of Calvert County. Furthermore, when viewed in combination with North Beach's boardwalk, public beach and fishing pier, the Bayside Nature Center will attract additional tourism dollars to North Beach and Calvert County. Such economic benefits should not be overlooked, as tourism income helps Calvert maintain its largely rural atmosphere.
In sum, the proposed Bayside Nature Center offers many benefits to the citizens of Calvert County. It will enhance the historical, cultural and environmental opportunities for our residents; it will complement existing projects in the twin beach area and maintain the desired goal of concentrating development in our town centers; and it will provide economic benefits to the local economy. As such, the Bayside Nature Center is a project worthy of the County's support and I respectfully request that this Board of Commissioners give the project utmost consideration.
Sincerely,
/s/ Robert A. Sturgell
Robert A. Sturgell
Owings, MD |
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| The mosquito problem was so bad in the early 1960's that the local and state authorities looked for help with the University of Maryland Entomology Department. The Department investigated the area and decided to install a 24" pipe under the road on the Scuderi property, which would allow the marsh to drain into the creek. (These pipes are referenced in attachments that follows.)
This piping kept the mosquitos under control and allowed the marsh on both sides of MD Route 261 to function naturally with the ebb and flow of the tides.
The Town of North Beach, in those days, hired prisoners who dug ditches in the marsh leading into the creek for the same purpose -- help the mosquito problem and keep the marsh from overflowing.
During the 11 years Vic and Marge Scuderi owned the marina, the mouth of the creek was always kept open and the natural flow of water allowed fish and other wildlife to find a haven in the marsh without being trapped. |
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ON THE BOARDWALK IN NORTH BEACH, MARYLAND
I have been told by several visitors to RoseHavenMaryland.com that, "Michael, you're no Pat Piper. Forget about it. You can't write worth a damn!" Well, that may be, but here goes anyway.
I've been hedging about putting this page on my site because I wanted to write a nice lead-in for it. But try as I might, the words just wouldn't come to me. So out of desperation, and really wanting to get this page incorporated on this site, this is what I'm gonna do:
I'm just going to say that I think Mayor Mark Frazer is doing one hell of a job in North Beach!! And that goes for his council members, too. Everywhere you look in North Beach, you can see the improvements that have been made since he took office. All you citizens in North Beach had better hold onto this Mayor. I can see where he may be taken away from you if you're not careful.
My wife and I (Vivienne) took these pictures (the link below) on July 3. We didn't want to go that extra half-mile to Chesapeake Beach to watch the fireworks because of the traffic, and the people congestion you face once you get there. And I'm glad we didn't. The half-mile long boardwalk in North Beach is just a wonderful addition to North Beach. There is plenty of FREE parking, lots of room to roam, a great place to just take a walk, and it's just a great, great place to visit!
Hope you enjoy the pictures!
On the Boardwalk in North Beach, Maryland
I hope to add a lot more information about North Beach to this page soon. Please stay tuned! Any suggestions about what you would like to see here will certainly be considered and will definitely be appreciated!
Michael
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